After going through a rough patch recently, the Milwaukee Bucks finally got back on track with an authoritative double-digit win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
It all started near the end of an up and down first quarter when Pat Connaughton knocked down a triple in the closing seconds to give the Bucks a 25-24 lead after one. After that, Milwaukee never surrendered the lead and maintained control throughout the remainder of the game, building up a lead that grew to 23 points at its largest. With a final score of 126-106, the severely shorthanded Bucks notched their 20th win and swept the season series against the Rockets. It was a solid win on all fronts, and let us take a closer look at three takeaways from the thrilling contest.
Khris Middleton looks solid in his return from a three-game absence for the Milwaukee Bucks
Following a three-game absence due to a hyperextended knee, Khris Middleton made his return to the Bucks lineup last night.
As expected, there was some rust on display from the forward as he looked to regain his footing, but it was an overall quality outing from Middleton regardless. He tallied 23 points while shooting 7-of-17 from the field, having found a groove as the game went on after he struggled early. Some of that can be attributed to his 1-of-5 shooting night from behind the arc as Middleton continues searching for any consistency out on the perimeter this season. Though his 3-pointers would not fall with regularity, Middleton got a big boost from the charity stripe, where he hit eight shots in nine attempts. He also tallied six assists as he took on his share of facilitating duties, building on what has been his strongest year as a passer yet.
Overall, for his first game back in the lineup after missing three, this was a great game for No. 22. Coach Mike Budenholzer, who typically runs a tight ship with his minutes, let Middleton loose for nearly 28-and-a-half minutes in this one, which was somewhat surprising considering the Bucks will be on the second night of back-to-back tonight. Nevertheless, only time will tell how things pan out there. It was great to have Middleton back out on the floor, especially in what turned out to be a huge win for the Milwaukee Bucks.